Felix Xuan's gaze fell on Walter Teng. He knew better than anyone about the strife between Walter Teng and Ann Tu Ning. Those alchemists had gone to Yue Ning Mountain and returned at just the right time—right after Ann Tu Ning had left, the alchemists came back. Did they think he was a fool?
But even knowing that Walter Teng was laying a trap, he still wanted to use the opportunity to punish Ann Tu Ning. Walter Teng set the trap, and Ann Tu Ning failed to resolve it—that was incompetence. He would never investigate who was truly at fault over this matter.
The sect's problems were definitely not just between Ann Tu Ning and Walter Teng. Several Hunyuan Elders were also involved. If he handled this poorly, the sect could fall into ruin.
Now that Ann Tu Ning had actually managed to turn the tables, even though he knew her story about searching everywhere for alchemists was false, he would act just as before—he wouldn't investigate the truth, and he had to side with Ann Tu Ning.
Felix Xuan didn't even need to investigate to know Ann Tu Ning had recruited that outer disciple just to make up the numbers; at best, it was to let him know she had participated in the Dao River Pill Competition. None of this mattered to Felix Xuan—the only thing that mattered was that the results of the competition hadn't disappointed him.
Seeing the Sect Master's gaze shift to him, Walter Teng had no choice but to stand and say, "Only after hearing Valley Master Ann Tu's words did I learn that Sean Xun actually tried to seize Joe Di's Cloudspire Sanctuary. I must investigate this matter immediately. If it's true, then he deserves his punishment."
Felix Xuan nodded. "Peak Lord Walter speaks well. Valley Master Ann Tu has rendered great merit to the sect this time—let him report to the Core Disciple Hall. A disciple like this would be wasted in the outer division."
Felix Xuan's tone was calm, without a trace of impatience. Only he knew how furious he truly was. He was the Sect Master, yet he was gradually losing control over the sect.
Walter Teng was lying through his teeth, but Felix Xuan couldn't punish him yet. Of the elders seated here, three were in league with Walter Teng. The remaining Grand Elder's stance was ambiguous.
Second Elder Qi Yu, sitting off to the side, hurriedly stood up and said, "Sect Master, Joe Di has indeed rendered great service to our sect. However, the core disciples are the future inheritors of the sect; we absolutely cannot let an outer disciple of unknown origin become a core disciple so easily. I suggest we wait until this outer disciple returns, and then make a final decision."
"Nonsense!" Ann Tu Ning snapped. "Joe Di has made such great contributions to our sect, and you still say it needs further discussion? If that's not nonsense, what is?"
"How dare you!" Cyrus Young shouted, raising his hand to strike Ann Tu Ning.
Cyrus Young was a powerful Hunyuan cultivator, while Ann Tu Ning was merely in the late Dao Yuan stage. Under his palm strike, she couldn't resist at all and was sent flying, blood spraying from her mouth.
"Bang!" Felix Xuan slammed the tea table in front of him into splinters, suddenly rising and pointing at Cyrus Young with a dark, furious expression. "Cyrus Young, are you trying to rebel? I am still the Sect Master of Origin Dao Sect, and you, an elder, dare to attack my Valley Master here in the council hall!"
A powerful killing intent swept out, enveloping the entire sect hall within Felix Xuan's domain.
Felix Xuan was furious, but he also knew some conflicts could no longer be hidden. He had originally planned to wait until this incident passed, then consult with the Grand Elder and visit Master Yan Yun to explain the sect's situation and seek his support. Now, it seemed he would have to act ahead of schedule.
Even the Grand Elder, who had always maintained a vague attitude and kept his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes and frowned. "Elder Cyrus, our Origin Dao Sect has never had a precedent for fighting in the council hall. Now you've set one."
Ann Tu Ning was just as stunned. She hadn't expected Cyrus Young to be so bold as to attack her in the council hall.
"I'm sorry, Sect Master, Grand Elder. I was indeed impulsive just now. Valley Master Ann Tu's words were too harsh, and I lost my temper in the moment." Cyrus Young's anger seemed to have vanished, and he stepped forward to apologize with a cupped fist.
It seemed he really had hurt Ann Tu Ning in a moment of anger.
In fact, everyone seated here knew the truth. Cyrus Young was at least in the early Hunyuan stage; claiming he lost his temper and lashed out was nonsense. If he couldn't even control a moment's anger, he would never have reached the Hunyuan realm.
Felix Xuan's face was grim, but he seemed to restrain himself. He looked at Grand Elder Zach Chung and said, "Elder Zach, Elder Cyrus struck someone in the sect council hall—this is no small matter. Take him to the Abyssal Water Prison and confine him for one year. Elder Cyrus, do you accept this?"
The hall masters and peak lords in the sect hall sighed when they heard the punishment. In the end, Sect Master Felix Xuan didn't dare truly punish Second Elder Cyrus Young—confinement in the Abyssal Water Prison for just one year was merely symbolic.
For a Hunyuan cultivator, a year in the Abyssal Water Prison was as trivial as closing their eyes for a moment.
Cyrus Young didn't hesitate at all and stepped forward, saying, "I failed to control my temper for a moment. I fully accept the Sect Master's punishment."
Only Grand Elder Zach Chung shuddered instinctively at the Sect Master's words. He glanced up at the Sect Master, then quickly rose and bowed, saying, "I accept the order, Sect Master. Elder Cyrus, please come with me."
He had always thought Felix Xuan was unfit to be Sect Master of Origin Dao Sect, but after hearing Felix Xuan's words today, he began to change his mind.
Most cultivators in the sect, including the Second Elder, probably thought that punishment in the Abyssal Water Prison was the lightest possible. After all, every disciple who entered, regardless of how many years they were confined, always came out with their cultivation improved, never diminished. Clearly, the Water Prison was not a place of punishment, but a place for secluded cultivation.
But in all of Origin Dao Sect, only three people knew the truth: the most terrifying place in the sect was the Abyssal Water Prison. Even if Cyrus Young were in the late Hunyuan stage, once he entered, he would never return.
The Abyssal Water Prison was where Hunyuan cultivators met their end. Only the Sect Master, Grand Elder Zach Chung, and Master Yan Yun knew this secret. Even Second Elder Cyrus Young was completely unaware.
Zach Chung understood perfectly why Cyrus Young had acted—he was testing Felix Xuan's limits. If Felix Xuan didn't take decisive action this time, many hall masters and peak lords in the sect would soon be sidelined or even eliminated.
The reason Zach Chung had always stayed out of sect affairs was simple: if the Sect Master lacked resolve, any action by the Grand Elder would only make him a scapegoat.
Now that the Sect Master had shown murderous intent toward Cyrus Young, Zach Chung didn't mind helping him. The decline of Origin Dao Sect was due to internal strife and the Sect Master's previous lack of decisiveness.
"Let's go, Elder Cyrus," Zach Chung repeated, stooping as he left the council hall. He sneered inwardly—Cyrus Young had certainly found the Sect Master's bottom line, but the cost of this test was far too high.
Seeing Zach Chung lead Cyrus Young away, Felix Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. What he feared most was Zach Chung refusing his orders or revealing his true intentions. As long as Zach Chung was on the sect's side, Felix Xuan still had some confidence in restoring the sect's order. He hadn't wanted to take this risk, but Cyrus Young had forced his hand.
Ann Tu Ning felt chilled. She had made great contributions to the sect, yet was grievously injured by the Second Elder, and the Sect Master had only given Cyrus Young a mild punishment of one year's confinement.
She stood up, not even bothering to wipe the blood from her lips, and cupped her fists. "Sect Master, I am gravely injured and wish to return to Springvale Division to recover."
Felix Xuan knew this was not the time to say anything to Ann Tu Ning, or it would all be meaningless. He could only nod. "Go and heal. The Second Elder was merely confused for a moment—don't take it to heart."
"Yes." Ann Tu Ning replied, then turned and left. She was completely disillusioned with Origin Dao Sect.
......